Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

The Boys!

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Let’s talk about Burrito and Willy B! Though these handsome guys have not met yet, it is exciting to know Burrito is not the only male anymore! We hope that these two perfect gentlemen will get along well and have a blast together. They are both so silly and share a love for slinkys and chase, I mean what more could you ask for! Now, of course that doesn’t mean there won’t be drama, because well, they are chimps and it happens. We just hope Willy and Burrito can really let loose and have some fun with each other!

P.S. Don’t forget that the on-line auction closed at 7pm Pacific Time! We don’t want anyone to miss out on the amazing artwork, jewelry,& so much more!

I mean look at these hams…

Burrito:

Willy B:

The enchantment of a summer afternoon

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The chimp house was a flurry of happenings this morning. With two groups of chimpanzees currently living in separate areas while Mave, Willy B and Honey B complete their quarantine, we’ve had to get a little creative in dividing everyone up to care for the chimps and their respective homes. Add in visits with old friends and new, and construction as our good friend, Gary McInnis of Sage Mechanical, and his wonderful colleagues, work hard to wrap up completion of the new tunnel which leads outside from Phase I and will allow Mave, Willy B and Honey B to venture into the fresh air and sunshine while they await the end of their quarantine and their chance to enjoy Young’s Hill. The chimp house was a hive of activity.

So this afternoon when things suddenly grew still and quiet after lunch it was as if a spell had been cast. An enchantment had fallen over the chimp house.

I went out to the greenhouse and Missy quietly came over and asked me to groom her and a few minutes later Burrito decided to join us. It’s always a gift when the chimpanzees invite us to interact with them, but when other chimpanzees approach we will typically disengage so they can spend their time bonding with one another. Their relationships with one another are always the priority in our minds. But this afternoon, Burrito and Missy seemed happy to include me in their grooming session and as we three sat huddled closely together in one shady corner of the greenhouse, everyone else relaxed and dozed around us in the summer breeze filled afternoon. It was so quiet. So still.

Negra:

Burrito grooming Missy’s brow:

Annie rested nearby:

Jody fell sound asleep. I watched her for some time, in awe really. Her tiny feet clasped together, the breeze ruffling her hair and the leaves of the bamboo. She took a deep sigh, her body twitching in some dream only she will know:

Sweet Foxie, her eyes growing heavy:

To hear the chimpanzees sigh in ease and contentment, to watch their hair blow in the warmth of a breeze as they doze and dream in this home, their home, that you make possible for them…in that enchanted space my heart just swelled with thankfulness for it all.

A Tale of Two Pineapples

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“A day wasted on others is not wasted on one’s self.” – Charles Dickens

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Volunteers Miranda and Elizabeth prepared breakfast this morning, with the centerpiece being a pineapple-strawberry-protein smoothie. The chimps ate their raw fruit and then drank every last drop of the bright pink smoothie. Of course, we couldn’t just throw the prickly pineapple tops into the Vitamix and we didn’t want to toss them in the compost bucket, either. Because the weather was so pleasant this morning, we ended up hiding the pineapple tops out on Young’s Hill at lunch, along with a forage spread of beets, carrots and potatoes. The chimps gathered themselves (and their dolls) and headed out to forage with gusto.

Of all the chimps, Jody is known for her expertise as a forager. We predicted that she would find at least one of the hidden treasures among the grass.

Surprisingly, Annie was the first to find a pineapple (the one that had been placed on a structure in the middle of the Hill). She triumphantly carried it back down the slope to the Greenhouse.

Negra found the second one since it was hidden in her favorite spot (a straw-lined cabin ear the bottom of the slope). She also carted her pineapple and vegetables back to the shade and shelter of the Greenhouse.

Annie’s pineapple wasn’t hers for very long before Jody casually took it from her. Annie didn’t seem to mind, though.

Jody reclined on the lower deck and relished every spiny leaf of the pineapple top. She held it lovingly and slowly picked it apart.

Neggie was a bit more industrious. Her mechanical breakdown of the pineapple top was quick and purposeful. She ripped off each spine and chewed it to a pulp before spitting it on the deck below. She soon had a pile of peels and discarded wadges at her feet, then chomped into the juicy core.

Jamie was not interested in either pineapple, preferring to eat beets and supervise from afar.

Burrito, meanwhile, ate anything and everything that he could find.

 

Meet Honey B!

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We are still getting to know Honey B, but so far she has been silly, curious, and sweet; though there is some underlying sass coming out! We can tell/have been warned that Honey is extremely intelligent! Right now she is just having fun and getting to know her environment and these new people around her. Honey B really seems to enjoy spending her time in the Mezzanine and looking out the windows. She is a grooming aficionado! Honey B makes these amazing noises while she grooms you and is very enthusiastic to do so! Honey B is a diligent cleaner, loves to play in big sheets of paper and roll around in them. She also likes bedding sheets and will cover herself with one and kick and roll underneath it (ghost Honey B anyone?)! Honey B seems to really enjoy onions of any form, but especially green onions! Here she is today enjoying a snow cone made with some fresh watermelon juice.

P.S. Don’t forget to go to check out the online auction! There is a beautiful metal photo of Foxie that has caught my eye!

 

 

Meet Willy B!

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We are still getting to know the slightly reserved Willy B, but these last few days he has really started to loosen up and show us his silly side. In case you don’t follow us on Facebook/Instagram, you might have missed this pretty amazing video of him and a slinky.

Before the new chimpanzees moved in, we installed closed circuit video cameras in the Phase 1 Building so we could spy on the chimps’ activities. This morning we were watching Willy B’s wild slinky antics on the television in the foyer. Willy B was upstairs in the mezzanine whipping the slinky back and forth between his legs and JB was working close by with his back turned to the caging. Every time JB turned around to see the what the noise was about, Willy B played it cool and stopped his game. We see you Mr. Willy B and we can’t get enough!

A Journey to the Sanctuary

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If you are signed up to our e-newsletter, you received a link to this video of the journey that Mave, Honey B and Willy B took to get to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, but we know you want to watch it again and again.

Help welcome them home by participating in the Summer Biddin’ Online Auction!! It lasts just a few days, ending on Tuesday, September 3rd.

Meet Mave!

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We are just basking in Mave right now! Mave is the most pleasant surprise! We didn’t know much about her going into this process. We had learned a bit about Willy B and of course we knew a lot of about Honey B, because you know, being Missy’s daughter. But when J.B. and Diana went to visit at Wildlife Waystation Honey B and Willy B were way more interactive, so we weren’t sure what to expect with Mave. So far, in our “honeymoon” phase, she is silly, easy going, and a good friend. She can play rough with Willy B, lay back and relax, or be caught grooming with either one of her friends. Mave seems to really enjoy slinkys! She also does this silly play bounce where she almost looks like she is doing a pushup and than explodes up in the air and claps her hands and feet together, and then she likes to play chase with her caregiver outside the windows! You could say we are smitten.